Changing Technology

Improvements in a technology that was exciting and new became a primary factor in the boom of the radio industry.

Technological change continuously morphs the way people interact with media. New technologies can assist in different forms of media reaching a greater, more specialized audience in new ways. Major companies are often wary to invest resources into new technology, but funding a new technology with fortunate timing can pay off greatly.

The standardizing of patents by the U.S. Navy and later, the pooling of patents in 1920 gave the radio industry a huge boost. The invention of the vacuum tube in 1906 allowed the long distance transmission of radio waves. These improvements in technology allowed one station to transmit its signal to the many homes with radios, making radio a huge social force.